Name

Hanzi Converter, hc - convert a GB file to a BIG-5 file, or a BIG-5 file to a GB file

Syntax

hc -m mode -map mapping [ -t t1 t2 ... ] < file

Description

The program converts a GB file to a BIG-5 file, or a BIG-5 file to a GB file. GB (GuoBiao) refers to the standard implementation of "GB2312-80" of Mainland China, in which the two bytes representing a GB code have their most significant bit set to 1. BIG-5 refers to the Big Five standard published in 1984 by Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry. Currently, most popular Chinese systems and programs use either GB or BIG-5.

The possible options are

-m

Conversion mode, either g2b or b2g, for GB to BIG-5, or BIG-5 to GB, respectively.

-map

Mapping mode, either one, all, or allbutsymbols. Since the mapping between GB and BIG-5 is not unique, users may request the translation to return the first mapping, all the mappings, or all the mappings for hanzi but only one mapping for symbols (e.g. there are two "comma" glyphs defined in BIG-5).

-t files

Specify the hanzi conversion table files, usually just "hc.tab" as described below.

Conversion Table File Format

The table file contains newline-terminated mapping entries. Each entry is a two-byte GB code followed by a list of two-byte BIG5 codes. Each entry line cannot exceed 256 characters. Users may build their own separate table files. The bundled conversion table file is called "hc.tab".

Copyright

Copyright (C) 1988,1989,1990,1993 Fung F. Lee and Ricky Yeung

All Rights Reserved.

This program and the table file are NOT in the public domain.

You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of hc source code files, table file(s), and documentation files as you receive it for non-commercial purposes.

If you wish to incorporate parts of hc into other programs, write to the authors. We have not yet worked out a simple rule that can be stated here, but we will often permit this.

This software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.

Authors

Ricky Yeung and Fung F. Lee

Bugs

Bug reports and comments should be sent to Ricky.Yeung@eng.sun.com or lee@umunhum.stanford.edu

Disclaimer

This software is provided "as is" and the authors disclaim all warranties with regard to this program and the correctness of the mapping table file.

This software has no connection with our employers.